Logo Copyright © 2007 NCCG - All Rights Reserved
Return to Main Page

RESOURCES

Disclaimer

Introduction

Symphony of Truth

In a Nutshell

Topical Guide

5-144000

5 Commissions

10 Commandments

333 NCCG Number

144,000, The

A

Action Stations

Agency, Free

Alcohol

Angels

Anointing

Apostles

Apostolic Interviews

Apostolic Epistles

Archive, Complete

Articles & Sermons

Atheism

Atonement

B

Banners

Baptism, Water

Baptism, Fire

Becoming a Christian

Bible Codes

Bible Courses

Bible & Creed

C

Calendar of Festivals

Celibacy

Charismata & Tongues

Chavurat Bekorot

Christian Paganism

Chrism, Confirmation

Christmas

Church, Fellowship

Contact us

Constitution

Copyright

Covenants & Vows

Critics

Culture

Cults

D

Deliverance

Demons

Desperation

Diaries

Discipleship

Dreams

E

Ephraimite Page, The

Essene Christianity

Existentialism

F

Faith

Family, The

Feminism

FAQ

Festivals of Yahweh

Festivals Calendar

Freedom

G

Gay Christians

Gnosticism

Godhead, The

H

Heaven

Heresy

Healing

Health

Hebrew Roots

Hell

Hinduism

History

Holiness

Holy Echad Marriage

Holy Order, The

Home Education

Homosexuality

Human Nature

Humour

Hymnody

I

Intro to NCCG.ORG

Islam

J

Jewish Page, The

Judaism, Messianic

Judaism, Talmudic

K

KJV-Only Cult

L

Links

Love

M

Marriage & Romance

Membership

Miracles

Messianic Judaism

Mormonism

Music

Mysticism

N

NCCG Life

NCCG Origins

NCCG Organisation

NCCG, Spirit of

NCCG Theology

NDE's

Nefilim

New Age & Occult

NCMHL

NCMM

New Covenant Torah

Norwegian Website

O

Occult Book, The

Occult Page, The

Olive Branch

Orphanages

P

Paganism, Christian

Pentecost

Poetry

Politics

Prayer

Pre-existence

Priesthood

Prophecy

Q

Questions

R

Rapture

Reincarnation

Resurrection

Revelation

RDP Page

S

Sabbath

Salvation

Satanic Ritual Abuse

Satanism

Science

Sermons & Articles

Sermons Misc

Sermonettes

Sex

Smoking

Sonship

Stewardship

Suffering

Swedish Website

T

Talmudic Judaism

Testimonies

Tithing

Tongues & Charismata

Torah

Trinity

True Church, The

TV

U

UFO's

United Order, The

V

Visions

W

Wicca & the Occult

Women

World News

Y

Yah'shua (Jesus)

Yahweh

Z

Zion


    487
    Yom haBikkurum 2004
    Part 3: The Firstfruits
    of the Resurrection

    Sabbath Day Sermon, Saturday 10 April 2004

    Click here for Part 2

      "And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf (omer) of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf (omer) before Yahweh, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. And you shall offer on that day, when you wave the sheaf (omer), a male lamb of the first year, without blemish, as a burnt offering to Yahweh. Its grain offering shall be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to Yahweh, for a sweet aroma; and its drink offering shall be of wine, one-fourth of a hin. You shall eat neither bread nor parched grain nor fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your Elohim (God); it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings" (Lev.23:9-14, NKJV).

    Welcome to this shabbaton or High Sabbath called Yom haBikkurim or the Festival of First Fruits, in the Name of Yah'shua our Messiah (Jesus Christ) which falls on the day after the last Sabbath in Chag haMatzah. This is one of the three Harvest Festivals that Yahweh has commanded us to gather together to celebrate each year. The first, Pesach or Passover, also corresponds to the barley harvest or early firstfruits. The second, Shavu'ot or Pentecost, is the wheat harvest, or latter firstfruits. And finally, the third, is Sukkot or Tabernacles, is the fruit harvest. The first two of these are firstfruits before the final harvest at Sukkot.

    Yom haBikkurim is characterised by waving a sheaf or omer of barley before Yahweh, along with grapes, wheat, olives and other early firstfruits. What is remarkable about this day in particular is that historically many miracles took place on it. There were also restrictions on what could be harvested - thus no fruits could be gathered on newly planted fruit trees for the first three years, and the fruits of the fourth were to be consecrated to Yahweh entirely.

    Of what significance does this festival have for us in the New Covenant? For one, harvest always represents the messianic community, those who put their faith in Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) (Mt.13:39; Mk.4:26-29; Lk.10:1-12; Rev.14:14-16). The sheaf is the first of the firstfruits. Sheaves always represent people biblically (Gen.37:5-11) in here in particular those who accept the Saviour. Yah'shua (Jesus) Himself is the first of the firstfruits, being the firstfruits of those to rise from the dead (1 Cor.15:20). It is written in Isaiah chapter 4:

      "In that day the Branch of Yahweh shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing For those of Israel who have escaped" (Isa.4:2. NKJV).

    Because of His atoning sacrifice on the Cross, this Branch was presented to Him. And who is that Branch? Believers! But not all believers. These believers are, first, those of Israel, and second, those of Israel who have escaped. Escaped from what? John the Baptist tells us:

      "Then he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, 'Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance ...'" (Matt.3:7-8, NKJV).

    The Pharisees were legalistically-minded religionists and exclusivists, and the Sadducees were worldly, politically-minded and doctrinally unorthodox. They represent those who are baptised outwardly but not inwardly by the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) because they did not come with repentant hearts. Thus we learn that Yom haBikkurim does not include these! Nominal or symbolic believers - whose who are Christians in name only - are not a firstfruit. They may be very religious but their hearts are not right. These, Paul tell us, are not delivered by Yah'shua (Jesus) from "the wrath to come" (1 Thes.1:10). They are not a part of the "first resurrection" and have no part in the Millennial Kingdom of Yah'shua (Jesus). They, along with unbelievers, constitute those did not "live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of Elohim (God) and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years" (Rev.20:5-6, NKJV).

    Yom haBikkurim is therefore of great significance to those who are seeking to be overcomers, living the holy life, searching for the chametz or leaven of sin in life with a view of having Yahweh burn it out, because Yom haBikkurim is for them. Moreover, the Hebrew word bikkurim, meaning firstfruits, is the same as bekhor, meaning firstborn. This is also highly significant.

    Anciently the firstfruits or firstborn were always the choicest, the best, the preeminent, the foremost of everything else that followed, for they were holy to Yahweh. This is shown in the first verse of Isaiah 4 which reads:

      "And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, 'We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; Only let us be called by your name, To take away our reproach'" (Isa.4:1, NKJV).

    What is significant here is the word translated as 'name' which is shem in Hebrew. The man spoken of here isn't just any old man, he has a shem - the word that we sometimes use as a descriptive of Yahweh who is haShem or 'The Name'. The word shem is used of people of honour, character, and authority - in other words, one who is in a conspicuous position in the Kingdom of Elohim (God). This whole chapter is about them and the end-time cities of refuge. As we read in the last part of the chapter:

      "And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy -- everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. When Yahweh has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, then Yahweh will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain" (Isa.4:3-6, NKJV).

    Not only are these men of honour in Yahweh's eyes, but the women have had the filth of the daughters of Jerusalem washed away from them. Who or what is 'Jerusalem' in the New Covenant? This Paul tells us:

      "For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar -- for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children -- but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all" (Gal.4:22-26, NKJV).

    We learn from this that those who are of 'Jerusalem' are of the spirit and seed of Hagar, the bondservant. Before the 'New Jerusalem' can come down, the old Jerusalem has to be purged of spiritual filth. Those who are left are the remnant, the firstfruits of Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ), the sheaves of Yom haBikkurim.

    The firstfruits of all believers are the overcomers and Yom haBikkurim specifically belongs to them. The rest belong to the 'later firstfruits' of Shavu'ot and to the second resurrection. The firstborn are the 'barley' whereas the secondborn are the 'wheat'. Please note that the tares are sown amongst the wheat, not the barley (Mt.13:25). This means that in the churches there are always three types of person:

    • 1. The Firstborn (early firstfruits) = Barley [Yom haBikkurim]
    • 2. The Secondborn (late firstfruits) = Wheat [Shavu'ot]
    • 3. The Counterfeits (final harvest) = Tares [Sukkot]

    The Festival of Firstfruits is a celebration of the resurrection not only of Christ (which happened 2,000 years ago) but also of firstborn believers which is due to happen now - not a physical resurrection (which occurs when Yah'shua/Jesus returns), but a spiritual one. When Paul said that "the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of Elohim (God)" (Rom.l8:19, NKJV) it was the firstborn he had in mind. Yom haBikkurim is for the revealing of the sons of Elohim (God).

    Does Scripture say more about them? Yes, they are also known as the 144,000 witnesses of Yah'shua (Jesus) from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. These are the "men of Israel" who have escaped. It is written:

      "Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's [Yahweh] name written on their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb" (Rev.14:1-5, NKJV).

    These are the ones who pass through the Chelvai shel Mashiach, or the Birthpangs of the Messiah, commonly known as the Great Tribulation. They are the firstfruits of the Father, Yahweh, whose Name is written on their forehead. These men and their wives receive a special mark (Rev.7) before the Tribulation begins to protect them.

    The mission of the Chavurat Bekorot or Holy Order is to gather these men and women. Isaiah 4 concerns us. We also have an outer body of believers called the 'New Covenant Church of God' to which those of the 144,000 firstborn who are here also belong. Thus NCCG contains both barley and wheat ... and the inevitable tares. But there is no wheat or tares in the Chavurat Bekorot. They are revealed in a rather special way that is unmistakable - the hand of Yahweh is clearly upon them.

    I mentioned earlier that a number of biblical miracles occurred on this day, Nisan 17. We ought, I think, to remind ourselves of them, because this is a day of miracles. This was the day that Noah's ark rested safely on Mt.Ararat (Gen.8:4). It was the day that the Israelites entered Egypt 430 years before being delivered (Ex.12:40-41). It was the day Moses led the Israelites through the waters of Yam Suf or Sea of Reeds, what we call the 'Red Sea' (Ex.3:18; 5:3). It was the day Israel entered into and ate the fruits of the Promised Land under Joshua (Josh.5:10-12). It was the day that the walls of Jericho fell (Josh.5:13). It was the day of the cleansing of the Temple by King Hezekiah, 800 years after entering the Promised Land (2 Chr.29:1-28). It was the day that Queen Esther saved the Judahites from extermination (Est.3:12; 5:1). And most importantly of all, it was the day that Yah'shua our Messiah (Jesus Christ) was resurrected from the dead!

    What, then, is the significance of Isaiah 4:1 to Yom haBikkurim? This is, to be sure, a very deep passage of scripture with meanings on many levels. Let me remind you of it again:

      "And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, 'We will eat our own food and wear our own apparel; Only let us be called by your name, To take away our reproach'" (Isa.4:1, NKJV).

    To understand the prophetic significance of this in regard to Yom haBikkurim we must understand two things. Firstly, the marriage laws of Israel. Torah permits a man to marry more than one woman on condition that he does not deny the rights of any of the other wives. Thus the husband was obliged under the Old Covenant to ensure that each wife was adequately clothed and provided with food. Torah specifically holds these husbands responsible for not diminishing the rights of the first wives if he takes another.

    Here, though, the seven prospective wives are willing to waive their rights under Torah to food and clothing. They are saying: "We will provide our own clothes and food if only if can partake of Your Name (Shem)." And what is the reproach for not having this Name? We learn the answer to that later on in Isaiah:

      "Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore" (Isa.54:4, NKJV).

    This passage is both literal and allegorical. In the end time there will be a surplus of women who have had the filth of the world washed away by the blood of Yah'shua (Jesus) to the extent that amongst the firstborn there will be seven times as many women as men. Thus the time old practice of patriarchal marriage will be restored. But there is an even more important allegorical meaning here that must not be missed. What is a spiritual widow? A spiritual widow is a believer, male or female, without a Messianic Husband. Thus the man is allegorical of Christ and the seven women (seven being a number of perfection or completeness) represent the complete or full compliment of the Bride of Christ, the 144,000 and their families. The disgrace is in not having the Name of Yah'shua (Jesus) as our covering if we do not overcome and qualify to be His Bride. Therefore we will choose to forfeit all our rights in order to be united to His Name! That is the meaning of the Parable of the Labourers. The first labourers (Old Covenant) demanded a fixed wage for a fixed number of hours. The second (New Covenant), who arrived late on the scene, made no such demands, and trusted the Master (Christ) to give an honourable reward. And He did. He generously gave them the same wage as the first labourers, even though the first had worked longer and in the heat of day (Mt.20).

    In these revelations we learn not only of the difference between Old and New Covenant but also the difference between the secondborn and the firstborn of the New. The secondborn are legalists who claim their rights. The firstborn claim nothing. For them, owning the Name of Yah'shua (Jesus) is enough, and trusting that He will treat them fairly is fine. Indeed, the attitude of the firstborn compared to the secondborn is entirely different. They are of an entirely different spirit.

    Interestingly, barley, which represents the firstborn, was always considered the poor man's grain. Yah'shua's (Jesus') miracle with the loaves was with barley loaves, not wheat (Jn.6:9,13). Yah'shua (Jesus) said in His Sermon on the Plain (cp. Sermon on the Mount, Mt.5:3-12):

      "Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, For you shall be filled" (Luke 6:20-21a, NKJV).

    The firstborn are the 'poor'. There is nothing outwardly to commend them. But this is not their only sign:

      "Blessed are you who weep now, For you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets" (Luke 6:21b-23, NKJV).

    These are signs of the firstborn, and it is well with them: poverty, distress, being hated and excluded, being reviled and excommunicated by other believers in the end time. These things are blessed and cause for rejoicing. How diametrically opposite this is to the worldly view of 'good things' for Yah'shua (Jesus) then makes this contrast:

      "But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets" (Luke 6:24-26, NKJV).

    None of this is to say that we should deliberately cultivate woe and misery. What it is saying is that "in that day" - in the end times of wrath, it is more blessed to be in the first category than the second, because it is the second that will ultimately suffer the most when the Tribulation descends, as it will soon do. For they will be unprepared and unequipped for the overcoming life whose school is hardship. Thus Yah'shua (Jesus) could say in anticipation of divers tribulations:

      "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26-27, NKJV).

    It amazes me how those who are spiritually blind and deaf still cannot understand this passage, no matter how many times it is explained. The explanation comes in the Shema:

      "Hear, O Israel: Yahweh our Elohim, Yahweh is echad (one)! You shall love the Yahweh your Elohim (God) with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength" (Deut.6:4-5, NKJV).

    Notice, please, that He does not say: "Love Yahweh will the majority of your heart and the rest is for your loved ones" but with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength. Every bit of it. This love is not divisible. Does that mean we don't love anyone else, even 'hate' them? That is what those who do not understand echad suppose because they do not know what this kind of love is. You see, we are supposed to love each other through Yahweh! So naturally, then, we can give Him "all"! Hesed or agapé love is not a quantity to be divided - it is all or nothing. If your love is partial or quantifiable it is not divine love! If you love a person apart from Yahweh you may know it is not this love. It is something else, something human, of the flesh. And it is with this understanding that wives are to obey their husbands in all things (Eph.5:24) and be faithful in all things (1 Tim.3:11) - obey their men who love Yahweh with all their heart, all their soul, and all their strength.

    The path of the firstborn is "all or nothing" and that is what we are to celebrate at Yom haBikkurim. There are no compromise paths here. Perhaps, in light of the end times we are now in, believers will reflect more soberly on their future both here and in eternity. This is the time of the revealing of the firstborn and the proving of the household of faith. All believers are currently under severe testing. The judgment has already begun for earnest, and it has begun in the House of God.

    Today we are gathered to gather the elect, the House of the Firstborn. This message is for those who want to be obedient in all things and so receive the blessedness of being securely in the arms of Yahweh. May this Yom haBikkurim, which begins this evening, be a time of sober reflection. We invite everyone to our evening service. Amen.

    This page was created on 6 April 2004
    Last updated on 6 April 2004

    Copyright © 1987-2007 NCCG - All Rights Reserved